Rampaging Ryan does the damage by going on goal spree

Craughwell 5-17

Liam Mellows 1-18

CRAUGHWELL full forward Jamie Ryan had a day to remember in Kenny Park on Saturday as he amazingly netted all five of his side’s goals as they comfortably saw off Liam Mellows to guarantee their quarter final berth

The win, Craughwell’s fourth in a row after an opening day loss to Portumna, sees last year’s finalists end the group stages with an impressive record as both the top scorers and meanest defence overall. Will that count for much when they line out next time? Probably not, but they certainly do look a side desperate to go one better than last year.

Craughwell had only edged out the city side by a solitary point in last year’s quarter final, but on this occasion Fergal Healy’s side cut loose in the ten minutes before half time, turning a cagey three point lead having played with the wind into a massive 12 point advantage before Mellows clawed a few back in injury time.

Ryan had pocketed his first goal on 23 minutes after a ropey early showing where chances went abegging, but that was all forgiven by the end after further strikes in the 31st, 39th, 58th, and 60th minutes that saw off Mellows stubborn resistance which had seen them get within five near the end after Aonghus Callanan’s goal.

Craughwell made two changes from the side that had beaten Cappataggle, introducing Cian Larkin and Mark Horan in place of Kealan Cullinane and Alan Callanan. Shane Dolan moved into corner forward, with Thomas Monaghan coming out to a midfield sector where his energy and application played a vital role.

They were soon forced into a further change when full back Ian Daniels was forced off after only four minutes, and a sloppy opening period from both sides saw Craughwell lead by 0-4 to 0-3 after 14 minutes. Niall Callanan, Niall Healy, Monaghan, and Stephen Hynes had scored for Craughwell, while at the other end Tadhg Haran had hit a brace alongside Adrian Morrissey’s effort from play.

With the wind worth a five or six point lead, Liam Mellows were in a decent position at this stage, and still were after Craughwell went 7-4 up through Hynes, Healy (a free), and Monaghan, with Morrissey again showing his worth with another good score for Mellows. Craughwell soon found another gear though to break clear.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.